<BillNo> <Sponsor>
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 38
By Freeman
HJR0038
001287
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A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Bill Freeman of
Nashville.
WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
the passing of William H. "Bill" Freeman, who built a business empire, which included real
estate, and was a leading fundraiser for the Democratic Party; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman cofounded Freeman Webb Company, a multifamily real estate
investment and management firm with over 18,000 rental homes and apartments across
Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama, more than 9,000 of which are in the
Nashville area; Freeman Webb earned the title of "best company to work for" year after year;
and
WHEREAS, a man of impeccable character and a true luminary in Nashville, Bill
Freeman thwarted a burgeoning extortion scheme in the Bellevue community in the late 1980s;
he made a bid for mayor in 2015 and considered a run for governor in 2018; and
WHEREAS, he was also a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, backing the 2020
Biden-Harris presidential campaign and Phil Bredesen's 2002 and 2006 campaigns for
governor; over the years, he gave more than $7.8 million in direct federal contributions to mostly
Democratic candidates and committees, including more than $1.1 million to the Democratic
National Committee; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman, himself a pilot, served on the Metro Nashville Airport Authority
Board for eight years under three mayors before stepping down in March 2024; in 2023, he
retired from running Freeman Webb, passing the torch to his son, Bob Freeman; and
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WHEREAS, he also owned the alt-weekly Nashville Scene and business-focused
Nashville Post, purchasing the publications in 2018 to ensure they remained local rather than
being sold to a New York investment firm, as had been considered by the previous owners; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman's public service further included serving on the boards of the
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tennessee State University, and the J. William
Fulbright Scholarship Awards; and
WHEREAS, Bill Freeman was devoted to his hometown neighborhood of Donelson,
where he and his wife had been elementary students together, and was a longtime member of
Hillsboro Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, he was also deeply devoted to his family and always endeavored to remain
true to family values of the highest order; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman is survived by his beloved wife of fifty years, Barbara Tinsley
"Babs" Freeman; three sons, the Honorable James Robert (Rachel) Freeman, Corporal William
Harvey Freeman, USMC, Retired, (Eucaris Carlino), and Michael Edgar (Kimberly) Freeman;
and seven grandchildren, Katie Freeman, Grace Freeman, Will Freeman, Mikey Freeman,
Hazel Freeman, Ella Freeman, and Elena Freeman; and
WHEREAS, he is further survived by his sisters, Beth Freeman (David) Moore, Barbara
"Babs" Freeman-Loftis (Thomas N. Loftis, Sr.), Brenda S. Freeman (Jeff Jones), and Bonnie
Freeman (Tim) Endsley, as well as a host of nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Louis Freeman and
Virginia Margaret Gannon Freeman, and his sister, Rebecca Freeman; and
WHEREAS, throughout his many worthy endeavors in both public and private life, Bill
Freeman distinguished himself as a beacon of kindness and wisdom and a stalwart community
leader; and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman was an incredible force for good, and Nashville, the State of
Tennessee, and our nation are better for his tenacity, commitment, and willingness to step up
and serve; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should pay tribute to the bountiful life of this exceptional
public servant and human being; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of William H. "Bill" Freeman, reflecting fondly upon
his enduring legacy in Nashville and beyond.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we extend our sympathy and condolences to the
family and friends of Mr. Freeman.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
without House or Senate designation.